Kabeer, such is the touchstone of the Lord; the false cannot even touch it. He alone passes this test of the Lord, who remains dead while yet alive. ||1|| (Page 948)
The sadhus residing inside Nirmal Kutiya Johalan are involved only in SEWA and SIMRAN. There is no difference for them whether it is night or day. They are always ready and eager to serve their Gurudev. They eat less, speak less and sleep less. They however, work tirelessly.
They inspire obedience in those who observe their simple life. There is no competition for them nor there is any display of wisdom. They are able to please the visitors with their smiling faces. Observing these sadhus, one can infer about their Gurudev, the Holy saint of the Kutiya.
Once during winter season, a Nirmala sadhu came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan alongwith a Namdhari sadhu. Both had traveled from Hardwar to the abode of Sant Baba ji. They were welcomed by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and given full honor. It was late evening and the sadhus were served with the Holy Food. After some time Sant Baba ji said to them, “I take leave from you now. We don’t have any arrangement for you to spend the night in the Kutiya.”
The Nirmala sadhu responded, “We had come here to spend the night at your Holy feet. We are sadhus and you are also a sadhu. The way you spend your night, we will also pass the time accordingly.”
They did not realize that they were with a great saint of a very high caliber and they were equating themselves with him.
Sant Baba ji however, said, “All right! As you wish.”
After sometime Sant Baba ji asked Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, “Santa! Water may be sprinkled on the sandy ground in the Kutiya.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji obeyed the orders and sprinkled water near the bushes. The atmosphere became chilly with the sprinkled water.
Sant Baba ji then instructed Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, “Santa! Start reciting Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Darbar hall.”
Sant Baba ji also came to the thatched hut in which the Holy Granth was kept. Both the sadhus also came and sat nearby.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji started reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Sant Baba ji sometimes closed his eyes enjoying the Gurbani. He sometimes kept them opened and listened to the recitation absorbedly. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji recited the Gurbani throughout the night and Sant Baba ji listened to the Holy Hymns.
Both the sadhus could not do anything else except to be present in the Darbar hall. They had decided to follow Sant Baba ji. In a peaceful atmosphere, sleep comes easy, but they could not fall asleep. The whole night passed with difficulty and they struggled not to fall asleep. They were repenting on their insistence to stay back for the night at the Kutiya.
At 4’o clock in the morning the recitation was stopped on the instructions of Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji then said, “Please be free from morning bath etc and then recite the NITNEM.”
Both the sadhus came back after taking their bath. Tea was served to all. There was no milk or sugar in the tea. There was no salt in the tea either. They somehow finished the tasteless tea. It was their ill luck that they did not consider the tea as PARSHAD. In case they had then they could have enjoyed the Holiness in it.
Later they came to Sant Baba ji and Sant Baba ji asked, “Sahib! What is your order now?”
The Nirmal Sadhu said, “We take leave from you now.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Satya Vachan.”
Sant Baba ji gifted dress cloth and saropas (robes of honor) to the sadhus and saw them off with honor.
On the way back both of them discussed about the strange behavior of the sadhus of the Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. They raised many unanswered questions.
Do the sadhus ever go off to sleep?
If they don’t sleep how could they remain so energetic?
How was it that none of the faces showed any signs of tiredness?
How could they remain happy in drinking tasteless tea?
They concluded that the sadhus of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan were unique and the path they had chosen was indeed a difficult one.
After some passage of time, the Nirmala saint felt the pull of Sant Baba ji and started again for the Kutiya. On the way he met the Namdhari sadhu and asked him to accompany him. The Namdhari sadhu refused him. He said, “I can not dare to go there. The ideology followed by the sadhus of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan is very difficult. I can’t face the majestic glory on the face of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. I am fine here in my abode. Please convey my respects to Sant Baba ji.”
The Nirmala saint had reached quite a different level and had his own impression of Sant Baba ji. He came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay his homage. He knew that it was indeed difficult to find such a true Holy saint. To have the DARSHAN of a sadhu who had sacrificed everything was a rarity and he was fortunate to be in the company of such a saint.
He was accorded the same reception as before at the Kutiya by Sant Baba ji.
I speak with the Company of the Holy; I am in love with the Holy people of the Lord. (Page 1202)
Sant Baba ji asked him, “Sant ji! This time your partner has not joined you.”
The Nirmala saint replied, “Maharaj ji! I had requested him to join me but he said he could not bear your majestic splendor. He has therefore sent his respects verbally for you.”
Sant Baba ji kept quiet and there was no further discussion.
Sant Baba ji gave a lot of love and respect to the Nirmala sadhu and graced him with all sorts of happiness.